The Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes play Game 2 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series Wednesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at PNC Arena. Below, we analyze the Predators-Hurricanes odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Predators hung tough with the Hurricanes, as they were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes, and 2-2 after 40 minutes. However, Nashville allowed three goals in the final period, and they were unable to keep up offensively.
The Hurricanes won all four regular-season meetings, and Game 1, on PNC Arena ice. Raleigh, N.C., was jumping with 12,000 fans allowed due to Governor Roy Cooper’s new relaxed indoor gathering restrictions.
Predators at Hurricanes: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:35 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Predators +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Hurricanes -185 (bet $185 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Predators +1.5 (-175) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +115 | U: -135)
Predators at Hurricanes: Projected starting goalies
Juuse Saros (21-11-1, 2.28 GAA, .927 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Alex Nedeljkovic (15-5-3, 1.90 GAA, .932 SV%, 3 SO)
Saros allowed four goals on 37 shots in Game 1. He did a good job in the first two periods, as he had his team tied up 2-2 heading to the third. He allowed goals to Nino Niederreiter and Jordan Staal, and his offense did not respond.
Nedeljkovic earned the start for Game 1, and he had some issues with rebound control in the first two periods. However, the rookie might have also had some first-playoff game jitters, especially playing in front of the largest crowd of the season. He settled down, and had a scoreless third period.
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Predators at Hurricanes: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Hurricanes 3, Predators 2
Money line (ML)
The HURRICANES (-185) are a little on the expensive side, and generally my personal limit for money line plays is -180. But Carolina has been money at home, and they have won seven of nine meetings with Nashville this season.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The PREDATORS +1.5 (-175) are moderately priced on the puck line, but they should be able to keep it fairly close in a much tighter Game 2. Sometimes you have to base your picks on fact, and other times on your gut feeling. I think Game 2 is going to be a hotly contested game, perhaps even decided in overtime.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 5.5 (-135) is the play after an Over result in Game 1. The Hurricanes posted five goals, including one empty-net goal to comfortably cash the Over. This one should have more tight checking, hitting and less scoring.
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